The Story
Does the regular season get any better than the Bears and the Packers, the last two undefeated teams left in the NFC, going head-to-head on Monday Night Football in their NFL record 180th meeting?
Easy answer--no.
This game was more back and forth than a seesaw, but the Monsters of the Midway did what good teams do, they found a way to win. With so many back and forth plays, it was hard to tell who would come out on top until Robbie Gould nailed a 19 yard field goal with just four strikes left on the game clock to move the Bears to a 3-0 record and solidy their spot as the last undefeated team in the NFC.
The Bears played well enough to win in all phases, especially special teams. Devin Hester's 62 yard punt return for a touchdown near the start of the 4th gave Chicago a 14-10 lead and broke Hester's drought from December of 2007, the last time he had brought one back. Gould did miss a 49-yarder early in the contest but redeemed himself by nailing the chip shot to win it, of course a high pressure situation. And rounding it out was Julius Peppers who blocked a game-changing 37 yard field goal from Packers K Mason Crosby.
On offense, Jay Cutler had a game somewhere between mediocre and good, going 16-27 for 221 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, and a passer rating of 82.5. The run game still failed to show up, as Cutler found himself the leading rusher with 3 runs for 37 yards. Receiving, Knox did make 4 grabs for a team high 94 yards, but Olsen made 5 catches for 64 yards and the all important touchdown reception to cut Green Bay's lead to 3 and make it a 10-7 game just before the half.
If you don't want to give the game ball to special teams, then undoubtedly it goes to the defense. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs each recorded a team-leading 9 tackles and the linebacking duo teamed up to deflect and intercept an Aaron Rodgers hail mary try to end the first half. And at the most critical point for Chicago's defense, Urlacher made a fantastic strip on Green Bay's James Jones to allow the offense to win the game. Tim Jennings, who also proved to be a contributor with 7 tackles, recovered that forced fumble. Also, Peppers forced the Pack's O-line to hold him multiple times in order to prevent sacks. With 2 turnovers on the night in a tough football game against a solid offense, the Bears' D made the stops when it came down to it.
On Green Bay's side, their offense had a productive day with 379 total yards, but costly penalties on both sides of the ball cost them this game. In being flagged 18 times for a ridiculous 152 yards, the Packers found themselves giving the game away, as two turnovers were erased by penalties and multiple holding calls backed up the offense. And with the Bears offense getting help from pass interference calls late in the game, Green Bay just made one too many sloppy mistakes to win this game.
Main Factor
The main factor in winning this game were the penalties and the resiliant play of the Bears' defense. Green Bay made too many mistakes on offense and defense via penalties, backing them up a total of 152 yards. When you have more penalties than points, you most likely will not win the football game.
Meanwhile, Chicago played "bend-but-not-break" defense; they gave up a lot of yards (379 total) but did not allow the Pack to score very much. Rodgers was able to march Green Bay up the field, but the nasty Chicago D stiffened up when necessary. And with the absence of Packers RB Ryan Grant, they made things easier on themselves by forcing Green Bay to be one-demensional, only allowing 63 rushing yards in the contest.
Strategy
With 1:44 remaining in regulation, Chicago had first and goal on Green Bay's 9 yard line in a 17-17 game. Green Bay had one timeout. Chicago elected to run the ball three consecutive times and then take a Robbie Gould field goal with just :04 remaining.
Should Packers head coach Mike McCarthy have purposely allowed the Bears to score in order to give his offense a chance to drive down the field and tie the game?
My answer is yes.
First of all, Bears head coach Lovie Smith should have had Cutler kneel on the ball three straight times. For any NFL kicker, there should be no noticeable difference between a 28 yard field goal and the one Gould nailed from 19 yards out--both should go in every time. So the extra 8 yards wouldn't have mattered for the 3rd most accurate kicker in NFL history. Why risk a Forte fumble and turnover when you have a very clutch, very accurate kicker waiting to nail it?
But considering the Bears didn't decide to sit on the ball, McCarthy should've let Chicago run it in for a score on first and goal. By not going that route, Chicago could take advantage of Green Bay's one timeout and milk just about every second off the clock (and that is exactly how it happened). With Gould as the kicker, McCarthy knew that the ball would go throught the uprights unless a miracle block occurs, which has proven to be a very rare feat in the NFL.
By allowing a Chicago touchdown, Green Bay gives themselves roughly 1:40 left with a timeout and the ball in Rodgers' hands. That is plenty of time to score, and the only logical route to go. And when a game gets to overtime, anything goes.
So forget all this mumbo jumbo about how intentionally allowing points is a bad example for the defense and how you need to take the stand no matter what. In the famous words of former head coach Herm Edwards, "you play to win the game!"
Who knows what would have happened had the Pack allowed Forte to run it in? But I will tell you this much, their chances of being 3-0 right now definitely improve if they would have given it a shot.
MVP
I'm going to be greedy and select two MVPs this week: Julius Peppers and Devin Hester. It's very simple--if Peppers doesn't create great pass rush, then Green Bay doesn't get charged for many of those costly holding penalties. And the blocked field goal changed the entire course of the rest of the game; If that kick isn't blocked, then we're never even looking at a 20-17 Bears lead to begin with.
Hester's punt return for a 62 yard touchdown shifted momentum back to Chicago and gave them the lead. Good players make it happen when it needs to happen, and that is why Hester gets my game ball (well, half of it anyway).
Looking Ahead to Next Week
Next week, on Sunday Night Football, the Bears will take on the New York Football Giants under the lights of New Meadowlands Stadium.
With Giants QB Eli Manning having thrown 6 interceptions in three games this season, expect a nasty Bears' pass rush to either break their sacking slump at two games or more turnovers by some bad throws. RB Ahmad Bradshaw has looked good through three, but considering the Bears have the #1 rated run defense in the league, expect hidden, mixed blitz coverages to limit Bradshaw. The Giants do have some other weapons on offense, but it can become quickly irrelevant if Chicago sets the tone early with nasty defensive packages.
For Chicago's offense, they need to continue mixing up Martz's gameplan. With protection, I would love to see more deep balls attempted downfield. But considering we're already going into Week 4, it's about time to get the ground game cranked up. With two talented backs in Forte and Chester Taylor, all it'll take is some commitment to the rush until some lanes are opened up. If the Bears can establish the ground early, then that will open up the field for more play-action passes, turning a whole new page in the Martz playbook.
Prediction: Bears 24--Giants 20
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